Tropical Storm Moke Approaches Hawaii Bringing Heavy Rain and Winds
Tropical Storm Moke is approaching Hawaii with heavy rain and strong winds, the second major weather system to threaten the islands in a week following Hurricane Lala. As of 11am Hawaii Standard Time, Moke was located 684 kilometres south of Hilo, moving west-northwest at 19km/h with maximum sustained winds of 85km/h. [4] Moke is forecast to pass south of Hawaii Island overnight, bringing 130mm to 250mm of rain on southeast and windward sides with isolated totals up to 380mm; eastern Maui could see 76mm to 150mm. [4] Hawaii Island is still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which caused one death, over 1,000mm of rain in places, widespread flooding, downed power lines and nearly 130,000 customers without power. [4] Governor Josh Green has urged residents to restock essentials, with pre-positioned equipment and 100 hotel rooms authorised for those needing shelter; some remote areas remain without power after Lala. [4] Severe thunderstorms with hail and damaging winds were reported in Wyoming, Maryland and North Carolina overnight, while strong gales left thousands without power in parts of New Zealand. [1][2][3][5]
Tropical Storm Moke Nears Hawaii
As of 11am Hawaii Standard Time, Moke was located about 684 kilometres south of Hilo. [4] It was moving west-northwest at 19km/h. [4] The National Hurricane Center reported that the storm’s maximum sustained winds were about 85km/h. [4] Moke is forecast to pass south of Hawaii Island overnight and into the following morning. [4] After passing Hawaii Island during the night, Moke is projected to continue on a westward path near the islands through early Tuesday. [4] Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the Honolulu office of the US National Weather Service, stated that there will still be impacts, especially to the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island, but it will probably be a little bit more limited than what was seen with Lala. [4]
Expected Impacts on Hawaii Island
The National Hurricane Center projects that Moke will bring roughly 130mm to 250mm of rainfall over the next two days on the southeast and windward sides of the Big Island. [4] Some isolated areas could see as much as 380mm. [4] Eastern Maui is likely to receive 76mm to 150mm. [4] Smaller amounts of precipitation are expected across the rest of the island chain. [4] Governor Green warned that the heavy rain is unlikely to end with Moke. [4]
Ongoing Recovery from Hurricane Lala
Hawaii Island is still recovering from Lala, a Category 1 storm that spurred heavy flooding and power outages. [4] At least one person died in last weekend’s storm. [4] Lala came close enough to Hawaii Island to dump more than 1,000mm of rain in some locations, causing rivers to burst their banks. [4] High winds also bent tall palm trees and downed electrical lines, forcing nearly 130,000 utility customers to lose power. [4] While power had been restored to most of Hawaii Island after Lala, some remote areas were still experiencing outages. [4] Power is expected to be fully restored by September 8. [4]
State Preparation and Official Warnings
Hawaii Governor Josh Green and other state officials have urged people to prepare for Moke by restocking food, medicine and other daily essentials ahead of the storm’s passage. [4] “It could certainly have a big impact because we’ve already been hit hard,” Green said in a video statement. [4] “We’re pre-positioning all kinds of additional equipment and people. I’ve also authorised 100 rooms, hotel rooms, for people to go to, in case they don’t have enough services or protection, safety.” [4] Green added that everyone should be very careful because this storm will be followed by another storm front about a week later. [4]
Severe Thunderstorms Strike U.S. Mainland
The National Weather Service in Cheyenne issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northeastern Converse County in east central Wyoming until 1030 PM MDT. [1] At 939 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near NARM Mine, or 22 miles southeast of Wright, moving east at 20 mph. [1] The hazard included ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. [1] The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northwestern St. Marys County in southern Maryland, west central Calvert County in southern Maryland, southeastern Prince Georges County in central Maryland and northeastern Charles County in southern Maryland until midnight EDT. [2] At 1128 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles west of Marshall, or 5 miles south of Hot Springs, moving southeast at 25 mph. [5] The hazard included 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. [5] Locations impacted include Marshall, Hot Springs, Walnut, Luck, Spring Creek, Max Patch, Canto, and Mars Hill. [5]
Gales Disrupt New Zealand
Wild weather has kept emergency services and maintenance crews busy as severe gusts caused havoc around the top of the South Island and the bottom of the North Island. [3] Warnings for central and southern parts of New Zealand have since been lifted, though MetService warned that exposed places were affected. [3] Thousands were left without power across Wellington and the South Island. [3]
What to watch next: Moke is projected to continue on a westward path near the islands through early Tuesday, and Governor Green noted that this storm will be followed by another storm front about a week later.
